There are a number of ways to approach photography, however, one choice that exists no matter what approach an individual takes is setting the scene. With choices ranging from choosing the best angle to getting the right lighting, choosing a scene for a picture is as important as the equipment you use.
While technology can help overcome some of the flaws that will occur, a better bet is to spend some timing planning on exactly what scene you want to set. While there will probably never be a perfect scene, some thought and preparation are sure to help. The following tips will help you understand what it takes to make a great scene for a great picture.
1. Plan Ahead
If you know you are going to be taking pictures, taking the time to think about the images you want will help a great deal. If you are going to be out in the forest ask your subjects to wear clothes that shoe an outdoors style. If you are going to be on a beach, make sure to bring some beach props. By taking a few minutes to consider this kind of thing, you will find that setting the scene becomes a lot easier.
2. Remain Flexible
Every photographer gets the image of the perfect shot in their head. In fact, some photographers get such a strong image, they find it almost impossible to change their mind even when the shot is obviously not going to work out the way they had envisioned. While this dedication to perfection is admirable, the best photographers remain flexible and willing to work around circumstances such as crying children photos, bad lighting or professional lighting, and other things.
3. Use the Weather
All to often people decide against a photography shoot simply because the weather is less than ideal. However, weather presents a great way to make your images seem more natural. By capturing images that have weather elements in them, the picture itself looks more real, and thus more memorable. Showing children lifting their heads up to the rain, a man holding his hat on against the wind, or any number of similar images give your photography a authentic and natural look.
4. Use Buildings and Other Structures
A woman leaning against a sunny wall, A young man leaning against a bus shelter, or a group of children at play in the street are all great images that use buildings and structures that can be found everywhere. As you set the scene for your shoot, make sure not to overlook these props, they can add a quality to your images that you will never find in a studio.
5. Candid Moments Create Memories
Some of the best photographs ever taken where snapped when the subject was unaware the lens was focused on them. A engaged couple looking whimsically at each other or a father spinning his child around are both examples of candid moments. While they may not have the polished look of some pictures, they will create memories that can last a lifetime.
The above tips pertain to working outdoors. While this is an essential part of photography to master, working within the studio is also very important. The main advantage the studio provides is an ability to really plan ahead and the following tips should help even experienced photographers get the most out of setting the scene for a photo shoot.
6. Arrange Props Ahead of Time
Any photographer will tell you that props are an important part of studio photography. They will also tell you that one of the things that can make a photo shoot turn out badly is not having the right props for the scene. Imagine shooting engagement pictures without having flowers ready, or shooting school photos and not having a football for the star player to hold. While many people will bring their own props, this is not something you can count on and is why having an assortment of props ready ahead of time can help a shoot be successful.
7. Keep Scene Changes Fluid
Very few shoots use only a single scene. By making sure you have your scene changes well planned out, they become much more conductive to the overall shoot. Nothing can ruin a shoot quicker than the subjects loosing interest or becoming irritated by to much time in between scenes. Keep furniture on rollers, make sure blocks are light and easy to move, and have your lighting set up for each scene ahead of time. By doing this you will find moving in between scenes becomes a fast and fluid process.
8. Suggest “Costumes” Ahead of Time
What a subject wears will often make or break a shoot. When you are arranging for the session make sure to give the subject some suggestions on what kind of clothes to bring. Also encourage them to think a bit about going off the beaten path. For example if you are doing prom pictures have them bring along not only the formal wear, but some informal wear as well. By having a variety of things to choose from you can make a photography session very unique.
9. Select Camera Angles Before the Shoot
As you are preparing the scenes and props for the shoot, take some time to experiment with different camera angles. While you probably already know what a particular angle will look like, there is always a chance that you will find something unique through experimentation that you have not seen before.
10. Imperfection Can be Perfect
No matter how well prepared you are, there will always be something that doesn’t work out according to plan. Don’t let this cause you a problem. Sometimes the best shoots are those that have small imperfections in them. When something unusual happens, remember to work with it the best you can and not get to worried about the details.
